Youth faces charges after Monday standoff

A 17-year-old Red Deer male youth faces several charges following a police standoff in the parking lot of an industrial park near Red Deer on Monday afternoon.

The youth, who cannot be identified due to the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has been charged with one count each of assault with a weapon, mischief under $5,000, theft of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, and using a firearm or imitation firearm while committing an indictable offence of theft.

The standoff occurred outside at Schlumberger Ltd.’s pressure pumping base in McKenzie Industrial Business Park, just south of Red Deer.

Blackfalds and Innisfail RCMP, ALERT, Police Dog Services and the RCMP helicopter were all involved in the response.

The incident began at about 2 p.m. after an employee went out to his truck when its security system was triggered. He was confronted by a male with a handgun. The employee was able to escape, then called police.

About 75 people who were working outside in the Schlumberger yard were told through company loudspeaker to come inside.

The incident ended peacefully around 4 p.m. with the arrest of the 17-year-old suspect.

RCMP said the firearm turned out to be a replica pistol.

The suspect made his first appearance in Red Deer provincial court on Tuesday. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear on Thursday in Red Deer youth court.

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